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Pettitte may return after one more start

Pettitte may return after one more start

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Andy Pettitte

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NEW YORK -- As Andy Pettitte began his testimony for the prosecution in the federal perjury trial of Roger Clemens in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Yankees manager Joe Girardi was back in New York talking about the left-hander's prospects of soon joining the club.

Pettitte, trying to make a comeback after not pitching in 2011, threw 96 pitches in an extended spring game on Monday at the Phillies' complex in Clearwater, Fla.

After allowing six runs (five earned) over six abbreviated innings, Pettitte said that he feels ready to return to the Majors, but Girardi said the lefty is expected to get another start before joining the Yankees.

Girardi said he did not know where that start would be, or if Pettitte would receive an extra day's rest beforehand, but the manager said it could very well be the last step.

"It could be; it may not be," Girardi said. "That has to be determined by the people that are watching him. I get reports, but my eyes aren't on him to exactly know what's going on."

Girardi spoke to Pettitte only briefly and knew the pitcher had his obligations to fulfill in Washington.

"I spoke to him before he pitched; he didn't really lead me to believe it was going to affect the way he was going to throw the baseball," Girardi said of Pettitte's impending testimony. "But I'm sure it was on his mind. I don't know how it wouldn't be."